Speaking with the people's voice : how presidents invoke public opinion /

Drury (Wabash College) explores "invoked public opinion" and the manner in which "modern presidents deploy references to the beliefs and values of US citizens in their nationally televised speeches" to either persuade or represent them. While acknowledging a sizable literature focused on the former (what Drury calls "presidential leadership of public opinion"), he urges scholars to pay more attention to the latter ("presidential leadership by public opinion"). In his analysis, the author considers the role of three common varieties of arguments: bandwagon, identity, and contra populum appeals that serve as correctives to public opinion. He then explores a number of case studies--including Nixon's 1969 Vietnamization appeal (bandwagon), Carter's 1979 "crisis of confidence" speech (identity), and George W. Bush's 2005 defense of his Iraq policy (contra populum)--to explain how each type of appeal operates. To Drury, presidents must focus on both "leadership of" and "leadership by" public opinion, as persuading others and providing representation are both critical to effective leadership. --Jeffrey Paul Crouch, American University